New video of webinar “How a Co-op ESOP Hybrid Works”

Democratic ESOPs or ESOPs with co-op features has been a specialty of Deb Olson’s law practice for 38 years. Once Again Nut Butter Collective (OANB) is the featured example company in this webinar. OANB’s CEO, Bob Gelser, a worker board member, Scott Owens, and Deb, who is board chair of OANB will present on the two and ½ years of work that has led to the OANB participatory decision making system, and the history leading to it. Deb spoke about legal mechanisms and issues. Bob and Scott talked about the practical issues of making a participatory workplace of 80 people function efficiently. Chris Cooper of the Ohio Employee Ownership Center (OEOC) moderated.

This event was cosponsored by the Groban Olson Law Firm, the Center for Community Based Enterprise (C2BE), the Ohio Employee Ownership Center at Kent State University (with support from the USDA's Rural Cooperative Development Program); Horizon Trust & Investment Management; and Once Again Nut Butter Collective, Inc.

Creative Community Pathways (CCP)

Creative Community Pathways (CCP), has created co-ops among the families of the children for whom it provides “individualized success plans. Families work together to get children to and from school and the many supportive resources in their program. The co-ops are organized and supported by CCP staff. Phyllis Williams, CEO of CCP developed these co-ops with advice from Atty. Olson. (More details coming soon.)

High Five Co-op Brewery

In 2013, Atty. Deborah Groban Olson helped this group of workers and consumers incorporate and they are now seeking members. High Five, is the first worker and consumer multi-stakeholder co-op created under Michigan’s Consumer Co-op Act.

Mustard Tree Co-op

Mustard Tree Co-op is a 23 unit non-profit housing cooperative in Detroit’s Island View neighborhood, originally founded by Church of the Messiah. Attorney Olson helped them obtain their independent IRS 501(c)(3) status in the 1980’s and has represented them ever since.

Evergreen Cooperatives

Evergreen Cooperatives- Cleveland, OH

There are recent efforts in distressed inner cities in Cleveland, Milwaukee and Atlanta in which anchor institutions have collaborated with foundations to create worker-owned cooperatives, employing neighborhood people to serve the needs of anchor institutions such as hospitals and universities. The most developed of these is the Evergreen Cooperative group in Cleveland.